Car-coupling.



PATBNTED APR. 3, 1906.

J. DARLING.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 816,565. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906. J. DARLING.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

o ETTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DARLING, OF RUTHERGLEN, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO DARLINGS PATENT AUTOMATIC COUPLING LIMITED, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

CAR-COUPLlNC-A.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 190 6.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DARLING, engineer, of 8 Jedburgh avenue, Rutherglen, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-couplings, and has for its object to so construct these that when two cars come together they become automatically coupled or connected.

In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into effect, I have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvements, illustrating the invention in the coupled position. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal section, part side elevation, and plan of the coupling and uncoupling device with which either end of the car is rovided. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, ut of a slightly different arrangement.

In carrying out my invention I provide a slide A, connected to the ordinary draw-bar B, the outer end of the said slide A forming a bracket C, which is forked or bifurcated. To the inside of the bracket is pivoted, by means of a pin D, a hook E of a shape shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The inside of the curve of said hook is radial to the center of the pin D. The hook in some instances may be constructed with a recess or indentation rendering it of duplex hook formation, whereby the coupling-link presently attached to railway-cars may be coupled to it if required.

On the pin D, but on the outside of the bracket C, the coupling-link F is pivoted. The link F falls into a horizontally-inclined position (shown in Fig. 1) by gravity and rests by its own weight upon the stop f.

Fixed pivotally to the bottom end of the hook E is a rod G, which passes through the head-stock H of the car and to which is fixed a ratchet I, which may form part of said rod.

Acting on the extreme end of the draw-bar B or mounted in any other suitable position to give the necessary elasticity is a spiral or other suitable spring J, which is contained in the hollow of the said slide A or coiled around the exterior thereof in order to enable the slide to return to its normal position when it has been together.

It may sometimes be found expedient to inclose the coupling device in a central hollow buffer, as shown in dotted lines n Fig. 2.

A cross-bar K is provided having operatinghandles L M at the extreme ends for uncoupling the vehicles. In the center of the crossbar is a suitably-shaped pawl O, having a sheath O, the extreme end of which is radial to the center of the cross-bar K. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the pawl O is adapted to engage with the ratchet I to allow the cars to be uncoupled when desired, and a convenient spring (not shown) is provided to release the pawl O from its hold on the ratchet I when the handles are released.

The mode of operation is as follows: When two cars are brought together, the couplinglink F, which is on the highest level, comes in contact with the hook E, and due to the eculiar shape of the hook E the couplingink F raises the hook until the parts engage with one another and the hook drops down by gravity, so as to effect the coupling. When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the handle on either side is depressed to cause the pawl O to engage with the ratchet I, which is connected, by means of the rod G, to the hook E. Further downward movement of the hande draws the ratchet forward and causes the hook to rise and become released from its hold on the coupling-link F. This action is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In place of having the cross-bar K with the operating-handles in the position as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 I may arrange the cross-bar along the top of the head-stock H of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 4, and in that case the rod G runs along the upper side of the draw-bar B, and in lieu of having the rod G, terminating in the form of a ratchet I, it is suflicient to provide a projecting pin or tooth I, with which the pawl O may engage. In uncoupling with the arrangement shown in Fig. 4: the pawl O is made to engage with the pin or tooth I by a half-rotary turn of the handle L and is locked there by a little pin or projection in the handle engaging with a recess y" in the side of the car. The pull on the vehicle causes the rod G, pivoted to the hook E, to go with it; but the engagement of the pawl O checks its further movement. and

passed back by the two cars coming thus raising the hook effects the uncoupling of the car. When it is desired to put the apparatus in the position where no uncoupling can be effected, the pin or projection j of the operating-handle is withdrawn by a slight lateral movement of the handle, and by means of a suitable spring (not shown) the pawl O is swung in the direction of the arrow and out of the path of travel of the pin I. The position of the handles at the side will indicate whether the apparatus is in the coupling or uncoupling position. An arm K on the cross-bar K, which abuts against the head-stock H, strengthens the hold of the pin 7' in the recess j. By this arrangement it will be obvious that a much lighter crossbar and handles are required and less eflort is necessary to uncouple the vehicles.

I also provide an arrangement consisting of two short lateral pieces of metal P g, attached to the draw-bar B in the rear of the ratchet I, Fig. 3, upon which by the lateral movement of the handles L M and the consequent lateral movement in either direction of the pawl the ratchet is made to catch and become jammed, whereby the hook is locked against coupling when desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a car-coupling, a pair of oppositelyarranged slides having bifurcated ends, a coupling-link pivoted to the end of each sias slide, a gravity hook pivoted within the bi furcation of the end of each slide and adapted to engage the link of the op osite slide, and means for releasing the hoo from the link, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, a pair of oppositely arranged slides having bifurcated ends, a coupling-link pivoted to the end of each slide, a gravity-hook ivoted within the bifurcation of the end of each slide and adapted to engage the link of the opposing slide, a rod connected to said hook and mounted to reciprocate independently of the slide, and means adapted to engage said rod to disengage the hook from the link.

3. In a car-coupling, a pair of o positelyarranged slides having bifurcate ends, a couplinglink pivoted to the end of each slide, a gravity-hook pivoted within the bifurcation of the end of each slide and adapted to engage the link of the opposing slide, a rod connected to said hook and mounted to reciprocate independently of the slide, and means for locking said rod against reciprocation with the slide, whereby the hook is elevated when the slide is reciprocated.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DARLING.

Witnesses:

JOHN LIDDLE, JOHN TRAIN LIDDLE. 

